Raising ATC Retirement Age Not an ‘Effective Solution’ to Shortages, Union Says

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) disagrees with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s plan to allow controllers to stay longer.

Jack Daleo

Monday, February 10, 2025 at 03:53 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). [Shutterstock/TJ Brown]

Key Takeaways:

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) rejects Transportation Secretary Duffy's proposal to address staffing shortages by allowing controllers to work past the mandatory retirement age of 56, deeming it an ineffective solution.
NATCA advocates for a long-term commitment to hiring, training, and retaining highly skilled air traffic controllers as the true solution to the system's stability and safety issues.
The U.S. air traffic control system faces a critical staffing deficit, with thousands fewer controllers than target numbers, a shortage highlighted in the wake of a recent fatal midair collision.

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The union representing America’s air traffic controllers does not believe Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s proposal to alleviate widespread shortages is an “effective solution.”

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) told FLYING that Duffy—who last week suggested allowing controllers to stay on past the mandatory retirement age of 56 during an interview on Fox News—is missing the mark.